How to Navigate Network Security in a Rapidly Evolving OT Cyber Threat Landscape

Operational technology (OT) environments are the backbone of critical industries – electric, oil and gas, and manufacturing, and are increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated cyber attacks. As cyber adversaries develop more advanced tools and tactics, OT network security has become more crucial than ever before. Unlike traditional IT systems, OT environments have unique requirements that make them particularly challenging to monitor and secure.

According to Dragos OT Cyber Threat Intelligence, cyber threats targeting operational technology are growing more sophisticated, with attackers continuously evolving their tactics. These insights underscore the need for proactive OT security strategies beyond traditional IT defenses. Organizations must adopt OT-native security solutions that provide deep visibility, detect emerging threats, and minimize operational disruptions.

This blog explores why OT-native cybersecurity is essential and how the Dragos Platform helps organizations secure industrial operations—without impacting reliability.

6 Key Reasons OT-Native Cybersecurity Solutions Are Essential 

1. OT Environments Aren’t Like IT
2. Non-Invasive Monitoring is Essential
3. A Complete Asset Inventory Strengthens Security and Operations
4. OT-Tailored Vulnerability Management is Key
5. OT-Specific Threat Detection Reduces Noise to Promote Action
6. Integrating OT Security into IT Frameworks Is Vital

#1: OT Environments Aren’t Like IT

OT networks operate under different priorities and constraints than IT environments. While IT security focuses on data protection, OT security requires special focus to ensure uptime, reliability, and safety—where downtime can have serious operational or safety consequences.

Unique Protocols and Legacy Systems

One of the biggest challenges lies in the complexity of OT networks. OT systems encompass a wide array of devices, including programmable logic controllers (PLCs), SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) systems, and human-machine interfaces (HMIs), among others. Each of these devices communicates via specialized protocols that are often proprietary and vary by vendor. Traditional IT security tools lack the ability to understand these protocols, leaving significant gaps in visibility and protection.

Complexity in OT Environments

OT networks consist of legacy systems, IoT devices, and proprietary control systems, each with different security needs. Many were not built with cybersecurity in mind, making visibility and protection a challenge. The diversity of protocols, hardware, and software in industrial networks requires security solutions that account for operational complexity while maintaining system uptime.

#2: Non-Invasive Monitoring is Essential

Unlike IT security tools, OT environments demand non-intrusive monitoring to avoid operational disruptions. OT-native cybersecurity solutions must provide real-time visibility without interfering with critical processes.

Passive Network Monitoring for Continuous Visibility

Passive network monitoring is the foundation of effective OT security. Unlike traditional IT tools that flood networks with traffic, passive monitoring captures network activity in real-time without affecting operations.

• Deep packet inspection for OT protocols ensures accurate threat detection.
• Real-time asset discovery and network visibility without interference.
• Zero disruption to critical industrial processes.

Active Monitoring to Fill the Gaps

While passive monitoring is the default and preferred method, there are situations where active query techniques are necessary to extend asset visibility, validate configurations, and collect additional details that passive methods cannot detect.

#3: A Complete Asset Inventory Strengthens Security and Operations

Another essential feature of OT-native solutions is the ability to build and maintain a comprehensive asset inventory. In OT environments, knowing what devices are connected to the network is the foundation for effective security. Unlike IT environments, where networked devices may be more standardized, OT networks consist of a wide variety of assets, from legacy systems to modern IoT devices.

Having a complete asset inventory is vital to implement risk-based vulnerability management. With a clear understanding of what assets exist, security teams can prioritize vulnerabilities based on their operational impact and the criticality of the systems they support. This is particularly important in OT environments, where immediate patching is often not feasible due to the need to maintain continuous operations.

#4: OT-Tailored Vulnerability Management is Key

Traditional IT security practices often revolve around patching vulnerabilities as soon as they are discovered. However, in OT environments, patching can be disruptive and risky. Many industrial systems must operate continuously, and maintenance windows for updates may be scheduled months in advance. Shutting down these systems for patching can halt production, disrupt services, and lead to significant financial losses.

As a result, OT environments require a more practical risk-based approach to vulnerability management. Instead of relying solely on patches, organizations can leverage alternative mitigation strategies such as network segmentation, multi-factor authentication, and enhanced monitoring.

This approach allows OT security teams to address the most critical vulnerabilities while keeping operations running smoothly, ensuring both security and uptime.

#5: OT-Specific Threat Detection Reduces Noise to Promote Action

OT environments face a variety of sophisticated cyber threats, including malware, ransomware, and nation-state attacks. As threat actors continue to refine their tactics, organizations must move beyond basic anomaly detection and invest in high-fidelity threat detection tailored to OT.

Many IT-centric security solutions produce an overwhelming number of alerts, making it difficult for security teams to identify real threats.  OT-native security solutions focus on behavioral threat detection, identifying attacks based on tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) specific to OT-focused adversaries—reducing false alerts and improving response accuracy.

#6: Integrating OT Security into IT Frameworks Is Vital

While OT environments have their own unique security needs, it is essential for organizations to integrate their OT security with existing IT security operations. This ensures that OT environments are not siloed from broader security initiatives and that both OT and IT systems benefit from a unified, coordinated defense.

Conclusion: The Need for OT-Native Security Solutions

As cyber threats targeting industrial systems grow more advanced, organizations must take a proactive approach to securing their OT environments. The unique challenges of OT systems—ranging from non-intrusive monitoring requirements to the need for comprehensive asset inventories—require specialized OT-native cybersecurity solutions.

The Dragos Platform addresses these challenges by offering robust network visibility, high-fidelity threat detection, and risk-based vulnerability management tailored to the distinct demands of OT environments. By integrating OT security with IT frameworks, organizations can build a cohesive, effective cybersecurity strategy that protects both industrial operations and broader enterprise systems.

As the cyber threat landscape continues to evolve, OT-native solutions will play a critical role in safeguarding the infrastructure that underpins our modern world.